صد هزاران شهر را خشم شهان ** سرنگون کردست ای بد گم‌رهان
The wrath of the (spiritual) kings has overthrown hundreds of thousands of cities, O ye wicked who have lost the way.
کوه بر خود می‌شکافد صد شکاف ** آفتابی از کسوفش در شغاف 2815
At their beck the mountain splits on itself into a hundred fissures; a sun is (enveloped) in a veil (of darkness) through the eclipse (occultation) of him (the perfect saint).
خشم مردان خشک گرداند سحاب ** خشم دلها کرد عالمها خراب
The wrath of (holy) men makes the clouds dry; the wrath of (saintly) hearts has laid worlds waste.
بنگرید ای مردگان بی حنوط ** در سیاستگاه شهرستان لوط
Look, O ye unembalmed dead, upon the place where the city of Lot suffered punishment!
پیل خود چه بود که سه مرغ پران ** کوفتند آن پیلکان را استخوان
What is the elephant even? for three flying birds crushed the bones of those wretched elephants.
اضعف مرغان ابابیلست و او ** پیل را بدرید و نپذیرد رفو
The abábíl is the weakest of birds, and (yet) it rent the elephant irreparably.
کیست کو نشنید آن طوفان نوح ** یا مصاف لشکر فرعون و روح 2820
Who is there that has not heard of the Flood of Noah, or of the battle of Pharaoh's host with the Spirit?
روحشان بشکست و اندر آب ریخت ** ذره ذره آبشان بر می‌گسیخت
The Spirit routed them and cast them pell-mell into the water: the water was shattering them to atoms.
کیست کو نشنید احوال ثمود ** و آنک صرصر عادیان را می‌ربود
Who is there that has not heard what happened to Thamúd and how the sarsar wind swept the ‘Ádites away?
چشم باری در چنان پیلان گشا ** که بدندی پیل‌کش اندر وغا
Open thine eyes for once (and look) upon such elephants (mighty prophets), who were killers of elephants (tyrants) in war.
آنچنان پیلان و شاهان ظلوم ** زیر خشم دل همیشه در رجوم
Such elephants and unjust kings as those are always in excommunication under the wrath of the (prophet's) heart.
تا ابد از ظلمتی در ظلمتی ** می‌روند و نیست غوثی رحمتی 2825
Unto everlasting they go from a darkness to a darkness, and there is no succour, no mercy.
نام نیک و بد مگر نشنیده‌اید ** جمله دیدند و شما نادیده‌اید
Perchance ye have not heard the name of good and evil. All have seen, and ye are seeing not.
دیده را نادیده می‌آرید لیک ** چشمتان را وا گشاید مرگ نیک
Ye feign not to see the visible, but death will open your eyes well.
گیر عالم پر بود خورشید و نور ** چون روی در ظلمتی مانند گور
Suppose the world is full of sun and light: when thou goest into a darkness like the grave,
بی نصیب آیی از آن نور عظیم ** بسته‌روزن باشی از ماه کریم
Thou becomest without (any) share in that great light; thou art window-shut to the bounteous moon.
تو درون چاه رفتستی ز کاخ ** چه گنه دارد جهانهای فراخ 2830
Thou hast gone from the belvedere into the pit: how are the spacious worlds to blame (for their being invisible to thee)?
جان که اندر وصف گرگی ماند او ** چون ببیند روی یوسف را بگو
The soul that has remained in the quality of wolfishness, how should it behold the face of Joseph? Say!
لحن داودی به سنگ و که رسید ** گوش آن سنگین دلانش کم شنید
The music of David reached (affected) rock and mountain, (but) the ears of those stony-hearted ones heard it not.
آفرین بر عقل و بر انصاف باد ** هر زمان والله اعلم بالرشاد
Blessing ever be on reason and justice!—and God best knoweth the right way.
صدقوا رسلا کراما یا سبا ** صدقوا روحا سباها من سبا
Believe noble Messengers, O Sabá! Believe a spirit made captive by Him who captured it.
صدقوهم هم شموس طالعه ** یومنوکم من مخازی القارعه 2835
Believe them—they are rising suns—and they will preserve thee from the ignominies of al-Qári‘a.
صدقوهم هم بدور زاهره ** قبل ان یلقوکم بالساهره
Believe them—they are shining full-moons—ere they confront thee with al- Sáhira.
صدقوهم هم مصابیح الدجی ** اکرموهم هم مفاتیح الرجا
Believe them—they are the lamps of darkness; honour them— they are the keys of hope.
صدقوا من لیس یرجو خیرکم ** لا تضلوا لا تصدوا غیرکم
Believe those who hope not for your bounty; do not go astray, do not turn others away (from the Truth).
پارسی گوییم هین تازی بهل ** هندوی آن ترک باش ای آب و گل
Let us speak Persian: come, abandon Arabic. Be the Hindú (slave) of that Turcoman (the Divine Beloved), O (man of) water and clay.
هین گواهیهای شاهان بشنوید ** بگرویدند آسمانها بگروید 2840
Hark, listen to the testimonies of the (spiritual) kings; the heavens have believed (them): believe ye!
معنی حزم و مثال مرد حازم
The meaning of prudence, and a parable of the prudent man.
یا به حال اولینان بنگرید ** یا سوی آخر بحزمی در پرید
Either consider what happened to the former (peoples), or fly with a (great) prudence towards the latter end.
حزم چه بود در دو تدبیر احتیاط ** از دو آن گیری که دورست از خباط
What is prudence? Precaution in (the case of) two (alternative) plans: of the two you will take that one which is far from craziness.
آن یکی گوید درین ره هفت روز ** نیست آب و هست ریگ پای‌سوز
One person may say, “On this road there is no water for seven days, and there is foot-scorching sand.”
آن دگر گوید دروغست این بران ** که بهر شب چشمه‌ای بینی روان
Another may say, “This is false: push on, for you will find a running fountain every night.”
حزم آن باشد که بر گیری تو آب ** تا رهی از ترس و باشی بر صواب 2845
It is prudence that you take water (with you), so that you may be saved from dread and may be on the right (side).
گر بود در راه آب این را بریز ** ور نباشد وای بر مرد ستیز
If there be water (on the road), spill this (water which you have taken with you); and if there be none, alas for the obstinate man!
ای خلیفه‌زادگان دادی کنید ** حزم بهر روز میعادی کنید
O children of the Vicegerent (Adam), deal justly: act with prudence for the sake of the Day of Tryst (Judgement).
آن عدوی کز پدرتان کین کشید ** سوی زندانش ز علیین کشید
That enemy who took vengeance upon your father and dragged him from ‘Illiyyín to prison,
آن شه شطرنج دل را مات کرد ** از بهشتش سخره‌ی آفات کرد
And checkmated that king of the spiritual chessboard and made him, (cast out) from Paradise, a thrall to calamities—
چند جا بندش گرفت اندر نبرد ** تا بکشتی در فکندش روی‌زرد 2850
How often in combat did he seize him by sleight, that he might wrestle with him and throw him (to the ground) in disgrace!
اینچنین کردست با آن پهلوان ** سست سستش منگرید ای دیگران
Thus hath he done to that paladin (Adam): do not regard him with contempt, O ye others!
مادر و بابای ما را آن حسود ** تاج و پیرایه بچالاکی ربود
That envious one nimbly snatched away our mother's and father's crown and ornament.
کردشان آنجا برهنه و زار و خوار ** سالها بگریست آدم زار زار
There he made them naked and wretched and despicable: (many) years did Adam weep bitterly,
که ز اشک چشم او رویید نبت ** که چرا اندر جریده‌ی لاست ثبت
So that (sweet) herbs grew from the tears of his eyes: (he wept, wondering) why he was inscribed in the scroll of lá (negation).
تو قیاسی گیر طراریش را ** که چنان سرور کند زو ریش را 2855
Judge thou of his (the Devil's) impudent cheatery from the fact that on account of him such a prince (as Adam) rends his beard (in sorrow).
الحذر ای گل‌پرستان از شرش ** تیغ لا حولی زنید اندر سرش
Beware, O clay-worshippers, of his malice: smite the sword of lá hawl on his head!
کو همی‌بیند شما را از کمین ** که شما او را نمی‌بینید هین
For he sees you from ambush, so that ye see him not. Take care!
دایما صیاد ریزد دانه‌ها ** دانه پیدا باشد و پنهان دغا
The fowler scatters grain incessantly: the grain is visible, but the deceit is hidden.
هر کجا دانه بدیدی الحذر ** تا نبندد دام بر تو بال و پر
Wherever you see the grain, beware, lest the trap confine your wings and pinions,
زانک مرغی کو بترک دانه کرد ** دانه از صحرای بی تزویر خورد 2860
Because the bird that takes leave of (relinquishes) the grain (bait), eats grain from the spacious field (of Reality) that is without imposture.
هم بدان قانع شد و از دام جست ** هیچ دامی پر و بالش را نبست
With that (grain) it is contented, and escapes the trap: no trap confines its wings and pinions.
وخامت کار آن مرغ کی ترک حزم کرد از حرص و هوا
The banefulness of the action of the bird that abandons prudence from (motives of) greed and vain desire.
باز مرغی فوق دیواری نشست ** دیده سوی دانه دامی ببست
Again, a bird settles on a wall and fastens its eyes upon the grain in a trap.
یک نظر او سوی صحرا می‌کند ** یک نظر حرصش به دانه می‌کشد
Now it looks towards the open country, (while) now its greed leads it to look at the grain.